If Perth win, again, Victory is likely to play that game at AAMI Park on the Sunday, but if City were to triumph it would set-up a mouth-watering derby at Etihad Stadium next Friday night.

Valeri said Victory’s coaching and fitness staff would have the team in top shape for next week, whenever the game might be.

“We know from past experiences that if we don’t work hard when we have a week off we’re no good the following week, so our main concentration has been on getting some good training in our legs,” Valeri said.

“Obviously it’s hard not knowing who or when we’re playing, but we’ve really just been working on ourselves because ultimately we know if we can do the things we’ve done well for the majority of the season then we can take it to any team.”

The Victory skipper said derbies against City are his favourite games to play, but was loathe to nominate a preferred opponent given all the different permutations.

With their finals position all but confirmed for a month, Kevin Muscat’s men suffered two losses and a draw from their last four games.

But Valeri is confident that run will have no bearing on Victory’s finals output.

“If you’re one per cent off in this league you get punished,” he said.

“But the Wellington game was the only game I was really disappointed with our performance.

“Come finals it’s a different ball game and I’m confident that as long as those chances are there, with the strikers we have in front of us, if they’re firing then we’re hard to stop.”

A-League TV: Is it time for a second division?6:40

David Davutovic and Tom Smithies discuss the option of a second division competition